Gunman opens fire at Alabama mall during Black Friday shopping

A young man was killed and two other people were injured – including a 12-year-old girl – when gunfire erupted Thanksgiving night at an Alabama mall as shoppers prepared for Black Friday, officials said.

The shooting happened about 9:50 p.m. Thursday at the Riverchase Galleria, the largest mall in Alabama, in the Birmingham suburb of Hoover, after a fight broke out between two men.

A 21-year-old man was fatally shot by police, while an 18-year-old man and the girl were wounded by gunfire, according to AL.com.

“We received a call of shots fired outside of Foot Action. We already had multiple officers working at the mall for traffic control and police presence inside,’’ Hoover police Capt. Gregg Rector said.

The two men apparently exchanged gunfire after brawling, Rectors said. The person who shot the 18-year-old fled the scene and was confronted by two cops.

“One of our officers did engage that individual and shot him,’’ Rector said. “He was dead on the scene.”

He added; “The Hoover police officer actually was running to the scene, he heard gunshots, he was obviously very near the scene, he actually shot and killed the person who injured the other person.”

Rector said police don’t know who started the fight.

“We know the deceased was armed with a handgun and we know he shot the person who was transported to UAB,’’ Rector said, referring to a Birmingham hospital.

The 12-year-old girl, a bystander, also was hit, but police weren’t sure at what point she was shot. She was taken to Children’s of Alabama.

“She was alert, conscious and talking and maybe going to surgery,’’ Rector said.

The gunfire sent shoppers fleeing for cover.

Lexi Joiner said she was shopping with her mom when several shots were fired between J.C. Penney and Foot Action on the second floor.

She said they were ordered to hide in a supply closet.

“It was terrifying,’’ Joiner said.

Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said officers quickly secured a perimeter and worked to evacuate shoppers.

“We have a plan and our plan works,” he said.

Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr responded to the scene and the county Sheriff’s Office was asked to lead the probe into the officer-involved shooting.

“We will be looking at every possible means to gather the evidence of what happened,’’ Rector said. “We want it to paint a very clear picture of what happened tonight.”